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President Trump feels Hurricane Maria efforts were ‘unappreciated great job’ after thousands of people died

New York Daily News, The (NY)

Sept. 12--As the East Coast braces for a potentially catastrophic hurricane, President Trump again complained that his administration's handling of a similar storm in Puerto Rico last year was "unappreciated."

Trump said Wednesday that the U.S. is ready for the approach of Hurricane Florence, which is projected to make landfall in the Carolinas on Friday, but also bristled over criticism of the federal response to Hurricane Maria.

A recently released report found that 2,975 people died when the storm slammed into Puerto Rico last year.

"We got A Pluses for our recent hurricane work in Texas and Florida (and did an unappreciated great job in Puerto Rico, even though an inaccessible island with very poor electricity and a totally incompetent Mayor of San Juan). We are ready for the big one that is coming!" Trump tweeted.

The President has frequently feuded in the past with San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz.

On Tuesday, after Trump made similar comments about Puerto Rico, Cruz slammed the President.

"Trump simply does not get it. Thus his neglect towards Puerto Rico cost about 3,000 lives. Unfortunately, it seems he will never get it," she wrote.

Trump's remarks on Tuesday -- in which he called the government's response to Maria "an incredible, unsung success" -- also brought a rebuke from Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rosselló, who has refrained from criticizing Trump directly.

"The historical relationship between Puerto Rico and Washington is unfair and unAmerican," Rosselló said in a statement. "It is certainly not a successful relationship."

New York lawmakers also slammed the President's ill-timed self-congratulations.

"It is disgusting that the president would lie about the pain and suffering of millions of Puerto Ricans in order to pat himself on the back," Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. said in a statement.

Gov. Cuomo called on Trump to send more aid to the still recovering island.

"Instead of patting himself on the back over this utter failure, President Trump should do something useful and push his fellow Washington Republicans to deliver the aid package Puerto Rico still desperately needs to recover and rebuild," Cuomo said.